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Friday, March 27, 2015

Car
insurance costs are on the up, after it emerged that following a steady
period of declining prices, premiums have now gone up for the first time
since June 2011.

Drivers can expect to fork out a hefty £582 a year for cover, according to car insurance provider Confused.com

But
for the under 25s, that is a drop in the ocean – on average youngsters
now pay about £1,911 for car insurance - although this is down by £792
since this time last year.

Despite
that high cost, many younger drivers still want the freedom of being
behind the wheel. We explain how they can try to beat the high insurance
cost trap and we also reveal how it can be possible to drive something
more fancy than a tiny-engined hatchback and still keep costs down.

Men vs women and car insurance costs

Until
fairly recently, female drivers have
been offered some respite from high costs, as they are seen as much
safer - this is especially true for younger drivers. Firms have even set
up with the specific purpose of offering cover to women, with the likes
of insurance firm Sheila’s
Wheels making the most of their better claims history.

But
the days of cheaper premiums for women are numbered, thanks to a
European Court of Justice ruling, which says insurers cannot charge men
and women different premiums because it constitutes discrimination.

The change came into effect on December 21 2012 and the younger you are, the bigger the impact.

So,
with both men and women under 25 in the same boat for the first time,
here are some tips to secure your cheapest car insurance option.

Tricks and traps: How to get better car insurance offers

- Compare prices
Use an online comparison service to do the hard work for you. Put in
your details and check the prices that come up. You can alter the excess
that you are willing to pay and the mileage you will drive and get new
quotes. Also check the insurers that don't feature in comparison sites,
the big two are Direct Line and Aviva. This is Money's car insurance search is powered by MoneySupermarket and will search more than 130 insurers for you.

- Haggle! The car insurance market is notoriously competitive. Once you've been on This Is Money's comparison and found your cheapest price (below), get on the phone and start bargaining!

- Avoid paying monthly charges - direct
debit installments generally come hand-in-hand with high interest
rates. An alternative is to borrow the money on a 0 per cent purchase
credit card and then clear it within a
year.

- Think outside the box: An accelerated no-claims bonus, such as Admiral's Bonus Accelerator, could give you a year's no claims bonus after just 10 months.

- Or, if you've previously been insured as
an additional driver on another policy, see if you can transfer a no
claims bonus to your own insurance coverage. Some insurers do this, includingDirect Line.

- Try for a discount by insuring two or more vehicles between friends or family members with the same firm.

- Try for a discount by insuring two or more vehicles between friends or family members with the same firm.

Blackboxes - Pay how you drive

If you are a good driver, and are
happy to prove it, you could get money off by installing a telematics
device, or ‘black box’, which monitors how you drive.

As an example, The Co-op's young driver
insurance policy includes fitting a box into 17-25-year-olds' cars to monitor acceleration,
braking, cornering and time of driving.

It then charges for insurance
every 90 days, taking into account any discounts or loadings.

Although bad driving
could see your insurance cancelled, research carried out on
behalf of the Co-op claims the service benefits young drivers
who drive well, with 82 per cent of young drivers saving claiming a safer driver discount.

Pay when you drive

The system is simple: A tracking device is fitted to your
car and the less you drive, the less you pay - another option for young drivers looking at ways to keep costs to a minimum.

iKube is aimed
specifically at 17-25 year-olds, who don't often drive between 11pm and 5am, with fees charged for driving outside of hours.

Those that choose Insure The Box pick either a 6,000 or 8,000 mile per year policy, but earn extra miles by driving safely - or buy
more online.

Coverbox also
offers a 'pay as you drive' scheme. Although not specifically aimed at
young drivers, it does offer some under 30s £50 cashback.

For low mileage drivers these schemes can cut
costs, especially if you don’t drive at night (11pm - 5am), when the price per mile is bumped up.

Dos and Don'ts

DO
compare prices for third party and fully comp. Although third party
insurance should be cheapest for young drivers as it offers a lower
level of cover, this isn't always the rule.

Check BOTH using our comparison table (below).

DO
think about adding a second or even third driver to your insurance,
especially an older more experienced one. This can even out the average
risk - which could mean cheaper insurance of up to £1,000.

Although
the obvious people to add are those with a long track record of good
driving, you may be surprised - anyone that's in a lower risk
category than you can help. Younger drivers with a job perceived by
insurance firms to be lower-risk can shave off pounds from your premium -
strangely, some claim adding younger siblings, on a provisional license, helped to cut costs.

DON'T confuse this with 'fronting', which is illegal - see below.

DO see if you can get cashback via a cashback website to reduce the cost.

DO, once you’ve tried our comparison site, check specialist young driver policies to see if they undercut them. And:

DO
try a specific young driver broker. Swinton's Young Driver Insurance is worth checking out, as areA Plan, Thames City, Only Young Drivers, Adrian Flux and Endsleigh.

DO check your occupation. When you
are asked to give your job title in the application process, there may
be a number of options that apply to you so try them all to see if it
makes a difference. But bear in
mind that if you choose an occupation that couldn’t reasonably apply to
you and is likely to be considered fraudulent, your cover could be
invalidated.

Can I pimp my ride or drive a fast car?

The more
powerful your engine, and the more changes you make to your car (unless
they are for security), the more you'll be charged.

But,
if you are under 25 and you just can’t imagine life without your
high-powered SUV, or a sporty little number,here are some suggestions to
avoid insurance premiums high enough to make Donald Trump weep.

• Shop around -
comparison sites can be good for standard risks, but a young driver
with a powerful car will not tend to do as well on these sites, compared
to a specialist broker who has negotiated a scheme specifically for
this market (examples below).

• Will you only drive a few thousand miles a year? Try a limited mileage policy.

• If you've passed your test recently, get yourself a PassPlus, IAM or Max Driver qualification and then insurance firms, such as Adrian Flux could knock off up to 25% - which means hundreds of pounds for teenage drivers. Many councils offer discounts of up to
50 per cent on the price of the course. Visit Direct Gov for more information.

• Got mods?
Make sure you tell your insurance firm about all modifications to your
vehicle, and check how they would affect your price before you do them,
even if they don't enhance performance. If you don't, your insurance
could be invalidated. Some mods might even reduce your premium.

• If you've been riding a moped, scooter or other motorcycle, ask if you can transfer your no claims bonus to yourcar policy.

• Are you in an owners club or online forum?
If not, think about joining one. From an insurer's perspective, people
who are enthusiastic about their car and learn all they can about it
will take better care of it. Even better, discounts can be as much as 15 per cent.

• Keep your car garaged if you can. Fitting a security device such as an
alarm or an immobiliser will also lower your insurance bill, sometimes substantially.

• Don't be a teen racer The more points you
have on your license, the higher the cost of your insurance. One
speeding conviction could bump up your premium by around 10 per cent,
but two may cost you up to 25 per cent more. If you have a conviction
for using a mobile phone while driving, it can increase your premium by a
whopping 50 per cent.

• Don't go for a modern car if you want something a bit less ordinary Insurance premiums for 'classic cars' are often discounted, although running costs may be higher.

The driver, a 23-year-old from Norfolk, was prepared to drive no
more than 3,000 miles a year. He could also have been entitled to a 10 per cent discount for being an owners club member.

However, Button was keen to make clear all circumstances are different.

Classic car insurerFootman Jameshas
recently launched its young enthusiasts policy. If you can prove you
are not just looking for a cheap policy and you have a genuine interest,
those as young as 17 can get a cheap insurance policy on their classic.

So, despite the challenges, reasonable prices for modified or powerful vehicles are achievable; quotes provided to this Is Money by specialist car insurer Adrian Flux also demonstrate that investing in your street cred doesn't have to decimate your bank balance.

Parents and fronting: Remember the small print

- Unsuspecting mums and dads looking for cheap deals could find themselves facing court proceedings for ‘fronting’ – WHICH IS ILLEGAL - if they falsely declare to insurance companies that they drive their car more than their son or daughter.

The consequences can be serious as fronting invalidates insurance and can lead to prosecution.

Insurance
companies may even refuse point blank to add a youngster to a policy if
they believe he or she is intended as the main driver. It could also
cause huge headaches if a claim is made - with some firms refusing to
pay out.

- One option
for parents looking to cut costs is to add under 25s to insurance
policies on a temporary basis - from one day to a few months - if they
are visiting or at home from university. Short Term Car Insurance Under 25, offer tailored policies for young drivers, but the AA and eCar Insurance also offer good short-term options.

You may be
asked to produce your documents at any time. Make sure that they are in
order and readily available to avoid the risk of a police fine or even
having your car taken away.It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all documentation
needed to comply with the requirements of immigration, customs, health
and other relevant regulations.If you are traveling in a vehicle other than a car or motorcycle, or you are taking a boat, you may need additional documents.

Documents to take

valid full (not provisional) driving license

driving license paper counterpart – if you have a photo card license

an International Driving Permit (when necessary)

vehicle registration document (V5c) – the original not a copy

motor insurance certificate

passport(s)

your travel insurance documents

You may need a visa for certain countries too.Check with your motor insurer to make sure you have the cover you
expect when driving abroad. They may ask to be notified when you travel
abroad or provide only third party cover when you do.

Borrowed, hired or leased

If you are taking a vehicle abroad that is company owned, hired or borrowed you will need a letter of authorisation from the registered keeper.In addition you will need to take either the original vehicle
registration document (V5c) or a Vehicle on Hire certificate (VE103).The VE103 is the only legal alternative to the vehicle registration document and can be obtained from BVRLA/All fleet services on 01452 881037.

In an emergency

112 is the European emergency call number you can
dial anywhere in the European Union in case of accident, assault or in
any other distress situation.

Crime

Don't leave handbags or other attractive items in view at any time, even when you are in the car.

Contact the Foreign Office Travel Advice Unit for crime and personal safety advice before you travel.

Drinking and driving

There is only one safe rule – if you drink, don't drive. Laws are strict and the penalties severe.

Breathalysers in France

1 March 2012 – the French government confirmed that
from 1 July 2012 drivers of all motor vehicles and motorcycles
(excluding mopeds) must carry a breathalyser. The regulation was to be
enforced from 1 November 2012 (later postponed to 1 March 2013) and
anyone stopped after that date who fails to produce a breathalyser when
requested was to receive an on-the-spot fine of €11.January 2013 – the French government announced that
the implementation of the sanction (fine) for drivers not carrying a
breathalyser – a fine of €11 – has been postponed indefinitely.So you are still required to carry a self-test breathalyser when driving in France but there is no current legislation demanding a fine for non-compliance.The original official announcement stated that one unused, certified
breathalyser must be produced showing the French certification mark NF.
The breathalyser produced has to be in date – single-use breathalysers
normally have a validity of 12 months.

Medical treatment

If you’re going to a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, make sure you’ve got a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)The EHIC card entitles you to reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical
treatment in most European countries but the cover provided under the
respective national schemes is not always comprehensive – and the cost
of bringing a person back to the UK in the event of illness or death is
never covered so you should make sure you have adequate travel insurance
as well.Read the Department of Health booklet 'Health Advice for Travellers'Apply for a European Health Insurance Card

Credit cards

UK issued credit cards are not always accepted at stores or petrol
stations in other countries. Check with the card company before you go,
particularly if you plan to rely on the card for payments.

Mobile phones

Use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving is prohibited in many countries.

Pets

Contact the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) helpline on 0870 241 1710 if you are planning to travel with a pet.

Show your card

An AA personal membership card includes the 'show your card' symbol on the reverse which gives access to hundreds of discounts in Europe and the USA.

Spectacles

Take a spare pair of spectacles if you wear them – especially if you are the sole driver.

Think right

It's easy to forget to drive on the right, particularly after doing
something familiar, such as leaving a petrol station or car park.

GB sticker

You must display a GB sign - failure to comply could result in an on-the-spot fine.If your car has number plates that include the GB euro-symbol (Europlates) you don't have to display a conventional GB 'sticker' within the EU.In some countries outside the EU a GB 'sticker' is required even if you have euro-plates, so it is always safer to display one.The distinguishing sign for vehicles travelling in International
Traffic is governed by the 1949 Road Traffic Convention, annexe 4 of
which stipulates the size and appearance of the sign - one to three
letters in capital latin characters with a minimum height of 80mm
(3.1in.) and a stroke width of 10mm (0.4in.). The letters shall be
painted in black on a white background of elliptical form with the major
axis horizontal.

Reflective jackets

Many countries require all drivers including visitors to carry reflective jackets.In Norway and Portugal they are compulsory for residents only but we still recommend you carry them.The AA recommends that you carry at least two reflective jackets/waistcoats in the passenger compartment - one for the driver and one for a passenger. Our country-by-country advice includes specific national requirements.Reflective jackets must conform to EU Standard BS EN 471: 1994 Class 1 or 2.Car hire companies don't all provide reflective jackets (or other
compulsory equipment) as standard in their cars. Check with the hire
company before you go.

Reflective clothing for motorcyclists

January 2013 – a law that made reflective equipment
compulsory for motorcycle riders and passengers in France from 1 January
2013 has been abolished.The requirement was to have been that clothing must have a minimum reflective surface of 150cm2 (approx 23in2) in total, either in one piece or in several pieces, and must be worn between the neck and waist.

Headlights

Adjust the beam pattern to suit driving on the right so that the dipped beam doesn't dazzle oncoming drivers.The legal requirement is to 'not cause dazzle to oncoming drivers'
rather than specifically to adjust/convert headlamp beam pattern.Delays and bad weather can't always be predicted so even if you're
only making a short trip and don't plan to drive at night we recommend
that you at least carry a set of headlamp beam convertors with you –
unless your lights can be adapted without them.

Don't leave it to the last minute to find out what you need to do –
it might be necessary to have a dealer make an adjustment for you.

Beam converter kits may not be suitable for all types of headlight – check carefully.

High-intensity discharge (HID), halogen or xenon headlights

Some headlights have an internal 'shutter' that can be moved into
place by a screw or lever adjustment at the back of the headlamp unit,
but others are less convenient and the dealer will need to make the
adjustment.

Some headlamp beam converter kits are suitable for these types of light too.

Remove headlamp converters as soon as you return to the UK.

Warning triangle

Many countries require visiting motorists to carry a warning triangle. Check our country by country advice before you go.

Leaded petrol

Leaded petrol and Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP) are no longer
generally available in northern European countries. You should be able
to buy antiwear additives but it's best to take a small supply of the
additive you use at home.

Overloading

Booze cruises

Breakdowns caused by overloading are common, particularly around
Christmas. Carrying five cases of wine is equivalent to having another
passenger in the car and if you overload you could pay more in repair
bills than you saved on your shopping.Overloading can:

damage suspension

burn out the clutch

cause punctures or uneven wear on tyres

Rear-view mirrors

A door or wing-mirror on the left-hand side is very helpful when
driving on the right. Get one fitted if your vehicle doesn't have one.

Servicing

Service your car well in advance to reduce the chance of expensive breakdowns while you're abroad.

Speed-trap detection devices

The use or possession of devices to detect police radar is illegal in most European countries. Penalties can include fine, driving ban, and even imprisonment.Some countries now also prohibit the use of GPS based navigation
systems which have maps indicating the location of fixed speed cameras
meaning that you must deactivate the 'fixed speed camera' PoI (Point of
Interest) function.

Travel insurance

It's always a good idea to take out travel insurance for your trip
abroad to ensure that you're covered for accidents and emergencies. For a
competitive quote for travel insurance, including special trips such as
skiing, backpacking and weddings, go to AA Travel Insurance.

Tyres

Check all tyres for condition, pressure and tread depth before you go.Most countries have the same requirement as the UK - a minimum tread
depth of 1.6mm over the central three-quarters of the tread and around
the whole circumference.Tyres wear out quickly after they get down to 3mm so if they are this worn think about getting them replaced before you go.Some require winter tyres
at certain times of the year in which case a minimum tread depth of 3mm
is generally required (the Czech Republic now requires 4mm).

Snow chains

Snow chains are important for any winter motoring and compulsory in some countries even when using winter treys.